Sunset at Chania harbour
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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Chania, Crete

2020 will certainly be a year to remember, and not necessarily for the reasons I would have guessed if you’d asked me in January. As travel restrictions started to lift in the UK, I found myself umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether I wanted to travel abroad again so soon. Some friends and I weighed up our options and made the decision to book a trip to Chania, located on the island of Crete in Greece. I want to preface this blog by saying it certainly wasn’t a decision I took lightly, however with the government saying we were able to travel again and a want to help boost the economy of a country that relies so heavily on tourism, I felt confident that we could travel safely and respectfully. And boy, was Chania worth it – with picture-perfect beaches, mouth watering food and far fewer crowds than you’d ever expect in the middle of summer, it truly was a trip to remember. Hopefully this Ultimate Travel Guide to Chania, Crete will help make your trip as amazing as mine was…enjoy!

Top travel tips

  • Getting from the airport to Chania town – it’s super easy to get from the Chania airport to the main town. A taxi will set you back around €25, while the bus is only €2. Be prepared with cash for both options, some taxis do take card but not all.
  • Cash or card – I wouldn’t say you need much cash when visiting Chania/Creet, as apart from public transport and taxis, we were always able to pay with card. I’d recommend having around €20 in cash on you just in case.
  • Getting around – Chania itself is super walkable and there are so many streets and alleys to explore. There are plenty of taxis available if you walk just outside the Old Town, again make sure you have cash if you plan to catch a taxi – a 30min journey should cost around €12 – €15. For travelling further afield, refer to the next tip!
  • Car hire – this is by far by biggest tip when visiting Chania, hire a car! While there are a lot of bus connections from the town to other parts of Crete, having a car gives you the flexibility to decide your own schedule, and some of my favourite beaches could only be reached by car. Keep in mind you may need an International Driving Permit depending on the licence you have so make sure you do your research in advance. You can find free parking in Chania on Kiprou Street just outside the Old Town, which is super convenient for parking overnight.
  • How to say thank you – one thing I always like to learn is how to say thank you in the language of where I’m visiting. In Greek, this is efcharistó (pronounced ef-cor-is-to)
  • Where to stay – if you can, try and stay as close to the Old Town as possible as this is where all the action is. We lucked out with our AirBnB as it was in the most perfect location overlooking the main square and beautiful rustic interiors, you can check it out here.

Where to wine & dine

  • Bohéme – a very modern restaurant/bar in the middle of the Chania Old Town, perfect for dinner and drinks or lunch on a hot day as there’s plenty of shade. My must-try on the menu are the bao steam buns *drool*
  • Monogram – your go-to spot for a morning coffee, I went every morning and they didn’t disappoint. They also have a lush selection of wines for sale.
  • Pallas – located right on the Chania harbour with rooftop seating overlooking the main square and the ocean, Pallas was by far the most up-market spot we dined at during our stay. They have an delish sushi menu (sure, you might not think sushi when you think of Greece but it was so fresh and flavoursome), the staff were super accomodating of dietary requirements and the Chocolate Cremeux is what dessert dreams are made of.
  • Ginger Concept – my fave breakfast spot, they serve delicious coffee and a good range of fresh breakfast/brunch meals.
  • Well of the Turk – well, well, well…if you’re after a fresh and eclectic mix of Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine then Well of the Turk is for you. There were a family of kittens running around our feet throughout the meal which just made the experience all the more memorable (read: adorable). Make sure you try the mushroom saganaki, Cretan style crispy Kalitsounia and tabouleh.
  • Barbarossa – located right on the harbour with lots of shaded seating, Barbarossa is a perf spot for a pre dinner drink.
  • Tamam – Tamam is a traditional Greek restaurant housed in a building steeped in history that was build around 1400 AC and used to be a public bath. We had the most amazing meal at Tamam and it’s well worth a visit while you’re in Chania. My menu faves were the zucchini fritters, mushroom filo rolls and grilled calamari.
  • Pulse Vegan & Vegetarian – everything on the menu is vegetarian and/or vegan. We shared a meze plate and it was to die for.

Must-see beaches

Last but certainly not least – the beaches! Hands down my favourite part of the visiting Chania was finally being able to dive into the stunning salt water, something I’ve sorely missed after moving from Queensland, Australia to the UK.

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